SR0178 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0178 LRB097 11551 GRL 54502 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James W. Smirles of Glenview; and

WHEREAS, James Smirles began his career in Glenview government as a member of the Village of Glenview Board of Trustees in 1974; in 1981, he became the first "honorary member" of the Chamber of Commerce; in 1985, he became the Glenview village president, a position he held until his retirement in 1993; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as village president, James Smirles faced the daunting task of incorporating the former Glenview Naval Air Station into the larger community after the Pentagon announced it would close the location; today, the more than 1,000 acres once occupied by the station has become a cornerstone of the Glenview community; and

WHEREAS, James Smirles served as the manager of the Glen Oak Plaza; at the time of his passing, he was an active member of Glenview's Willow Road Community Advisory Group; and

WHEREAS, James Smirles was a member of the Parish Council of Saints Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church and the Glen Club of Glenview; he served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Safety Engineers and was a past President of Veterans of Safety International; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, James Smirles was named Glenview's Citizen of the Year; he served as chairman of the Glenview Centennial Commission; he served as a member of the Waukegan Road Corridor Committee; in 2008, he served as emcee of the Glenview Television production of the village's 4th of July parade; and

WHEREAS, On January 4, 2011, the members of the Village of Glenview Board of Trustees voted to designate Prairie Avenue as "Jim Smirles Way" in honor of his many years of dedicated service to the people of Glenview; and

WHEREAS, James Smirles was the beloved husband of Regina, nee Stathopulos; the loving father of William J. (Cheri) Smirles; the proud grandfather of Mary Kate and Jonathan Smirles; the dear brother of Janice Smirles and the late Estelle Spurgetis; the devoted son of the late William and Katherine Smirles; the son-in-law of the late James and Stella Stathopulos; the brother-in-law of John (Mary) and the late Gregory Stathopulos; and the fond uncle of Mary Kay Eckert, Marguerite Nelson, Ted Spurgetis, Bill Sweeney, Liz Dorton, Jim, Regina, and Andrew Stathopulos; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of James W. Smirles; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James Smirles as an expression of our sympathy.